Aaron has his one hundred gear, tools and news websites he looks at every day and I have my sewing, crafting and house blogs I look at. I look at mine during the day when Aaron's gone but I have to suffer looking at his with him when he gets home. I've never been more aware of current events then I am now. It probably is a good thing. The devastation in Japan, the democrats vs. the republicans in Wisconsin and unrest in Egypt and the middle east. Last year I would have not even been aware.
It's crazy how uncertain life is. We think we've got everything together and in control. Those of us with type A personalities have our lives planned for the next 50 years. But it doesn't work like that. Death happens. It happens to babies, young people, middle aged people and old people. It is no respecter of persons. We cannot escape it. Earthquakes, disease, accidents...
I'm a worrier by nature and cannot imagine my life without my loved ones. They are all so precious. But I would cope- the Lord would be with me. I don't know how people who aren't Christians deal with death. It must be so scary. Not knowing what comes next. But even though I don't know what my life holds, I know that the Lord holds me in His hands (John 10:28)!!
(So much easier to reason how to deal with sorrow before it occurs. I cannot imagine the sorrow others have gone through. I ache for them- my heart just breaks.)
Showing posts with label bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bible. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
tears, happiness and sorrow
PHEWPH. It's been one of those weekends. The kind where, when it's over, you want to crawl into a hole a sleep. This weekend was our conference and it went really well. (More on that later.) After the weekend I had to help aaron with work stuff, and apparently I am out of practice. We worked till midnight the first night and till five the second day. I ache. Every single muscle in my body hurts. Aaron says this is how he feels when he comes home everyday. Maybe I owe him a little more sympathy??! It was so bad yesterday afternoon that I have a story on myself.
I was industrially working away and Aaron was so finished that all he could do was wander around. He decides he needs some tool from home. Thirty minutes later he appears with a coffee from our favorite (really cool, local) coffee shop. It's a white hot chocolate espresso. Note: I love white hot chocolate and hate coffee. He loves coffee. He thought I would appreciate the hot chocolate part and be able to deal with the coffee part. So I'm in the middle of telling him that when I first saw the cup I thought it was all for meeeee and that it was my faaaaavvvooooorriiite whittteee hooooot (and by this time I am bawling my eyes out). When I was done crying and he was done laughing I felt much better. It's kinda like the time I cried because somebody ate all the lettuce. I asked him why he married an emotional roller coaster and he just laughed again. Poor guy.
So the conference. It was good:) I can't remember all the messages but I do remember some tidbits that have sunk in (hopefully).
First- reading your bible with technology spread around you within arms reach is NOT how to read. You can't concentrate (you'd think this would be obvious enough that it doesn't need to be stated, but it did).
Second- true happiness. All found through the Lord Jesus not through stuff and surroundings. Aaron and I have talked about this a lot over the past year or so especially in light of what we have and don't have as newly weds. And really- it doesn't matter. Those things (ie kitchens) would not make us any happier at all. The speaker went through and talked about the things that DO make us happier.
Third- sorrow. I haven't really had to deal with it personally, I know it will come though. Plus, you look at others and the intensity of sorrow that they have to deal with is just beyond my comprehension. Death, illness, waywardness, childlessness... again, I cannot imagine. It makes you realize how small and incapable you are. One of our family members had to go into the hospital because of a weird/scary health thing. I had myself so worked up and it just made me think about how short life is, we are not owed any length or quality of time. God is good.
Fourth- 2 Sam 17. Called Elijah the Tishbite in the beginning of the chapter and a man of God by the end. To be a man/woman of God.
And if you want to hear the messages (they haven't been posted yet but will be) go here.
And now I need to go have a nap.
I was industrially working away and Aaron was so finished that all he could do was wander around. He decides he needs some tool from home. Thirty minutes later he appears with a coffee from our favorite (really cool, local) coffee shop. It's a white hot chocolate espresso. Note: I love white hot chocolate and hate coffee. He loves coffee. He thought I would appreciate the hot chocolate part and be able to deal with the coffee part. So I'm in the middle of telling him that when I first saw the cup I thought it was all for meeeee and that it was my faaaaavvvooooorriiite whittteee hooooot (and by this time I am bawling my eyes out). When I was done crying and he was done laughing I felt much better. It's kinda like the time I cried because somebody ate all the lettuce. I asked him why he married an emotional roller coaster and he just laughed again. Poor guy.
So the conference. It was good:) I can't remember all the messages but I do remember some tidbits that have sunk in (hopefully).
First- reading your bible with technology spread around you within arms reach is NOT how to read. You can't concentrate (you'd think this would be obvious enough that it doesn't need to be stated, but it did).
Second- true happiness. All found through the Lord Jesus not through stuff and surroundings. Aaron and I have talked about this a lot over the past year or so especially in light of what we have and don't have as newly weds. And really- it doesn't matter. Those things (ie kitchens) would not make us any happier at all. The speaker went through and talked about the things that DO make us happier.
Third- sorrow. I haven't really had to deal with it personally, I know it will come though. Plus, you look at others and the intensity of sorrow that they have to deal with is just beyond my comprehension. Death, illness, waywardness, childlessness... again, I cannot imagine. It makes you realize how small and incapable you are. One of our family members had to go into the hospital because of a weird/scary health thing. I had myself so worked up and it just made me think about how short life is, we are not owed any length or quality of time. God is good.
Fourth- 2 Sam 17. Called Elijah the Tishbite in the beginning of the chapter and a man of God by the end. To be a man/woman of God.
And if you want to hear the messages (they haven't been posted yet but will be) go here.
And now I need to go have a nap.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
the But.
..."But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:33-34
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
lilies of the field
Do you ever have such an immense feeling of gratitude to the Lord that it just overwhelms you? I do. It's amazing how he guides our lives so perfectly. No matter how difficult situations seem, He IS in control. It shouldn't surprise me when He works things out better then I could ever manipulate, but it does. There have been so many things over the past two years that just leave me with my mouth gaping open. He tells me to not worry because if He cares for the lilies of the field and the birds He is capable of caring for me, yet it sometimes is so hard. You'd think that if I paused ...... and thought over those things aforementioned that I'd "get it" and just NOT WORRY because He has the best planned. Isn't our God awesome?!
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" Matthew 6:25-31
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" Matthew 6:25-31
Monday, April 28, 2008
Joy!
Phil 3:1a "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord."
Paul doesn’t just command us to, "Rejoice!" and end it there. He gives us on object to gaze upon. Not circumstances. Not family. Not love. Not education. Not money. Not status. Not entertainment.
He shows us the Lord. The one who will never fade, change or disappear. The one who emptied himself, humbled himself and became obedient unto death. The one who God has highly exalted and given a name which is above every name! The one that I bow to. The one who is my Saviour.
Paul doesn’t just command us to, "Rejoice!" and end it there. He gives us on object to gaze upon. Not circumstances. Not family. Not love. Not education. Not money. Not status. Not entertainment.
He shows us the Lord. The one who will never fade, change or disappear. The one who emptied himself, humbled himself and became obedient unto death. The one who God has highly exalted and given a name which is above every name! The one that I bow to. The one who is my Saviour.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
"Change Your Life"
My blog was starting to remind me of new housing developments in most North American cities. Row after row of stucco houses in various muted hues with no distinctive features, nothing that speaks of the owners, nothing to give identity. To combat this cultural phenomena I purposed to change my blog layout. A small and insignificant act that in reality poses no real threat to the aforementioned crisis, however I will do my part! Due to my very limited knowledge of HTML I was restricted in my crusade by only being able to add a picture to my header.
I took this picture at the Imperial War Museum in London. It’s a piece of the Berlin wall that was salvaged during the knocking down of the same. “Change your life.” I thought a lot about the person who wrote this: What was their life like? What did they want to see changed? Freedom? Peace? All revolutions take place first in individuals. So how does an individual change? How do I change? How do I become a better person?
I look through history and religion and try to find someone who shows me how to do this. Someone who not only gives me moral laws but also the strength and desire to follow them. For laws only teach me that I am a failure, a sinner.
Jesus. I see a man who made claims, claims so great the Jewish people wanted Him dead. If any other man made claims such as He did they would simply be labeled a lunatic and ignored. So why is Jesus not ignored? What makes Him special? He healed, controlled the elements, loved, gave life, fulfilled Jewish old testament prophesy, turned the world upside down… And He is ALIVE!
I have found a man, my Saviour, my God who is the perfect example of perfection, I have found the one who gives me strength.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus. (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
I took this picture at the Imperial War Museum in London. It’s a piece of the Berlin wall that was salvaged during the knocking down of the same. “Change your life.” I thought a lot about the person who wrote this: What was their life like? What did they want to see changed? Freedom? Peace? All revolutions take place first in individuals. So how does an individual change? How do I change? How do I become a better person?
I look through history and religion and try to find someone who shows me how to do this. Someone who not only gives me moral laws but also the strength and desire to follow them. For laws only teach me that I am a failure, a sinner.
Jesus. I see a man who made claims, claims so great the Jewish people wanted Him dead. If any other man made claims such as He did they would simply be labeled a lunatic and ignored. So why is Jesus not ignored? What makes Him special? He healed, controlled the elements, loved, gave life, fulfilled Jewish old testament prophesy, turned the world upside down… And He is ALIVE!
I have found a man, my Saviour, my God who is the perfect example of perfection, I have found the one who gives me strength.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus. (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
opium
A few blogger diehards (one may also call them addicts although they would take exception to that label) have been at me to write more, stooping so low as to compliment me on my exceptional writing skills. This, of course, inflated my under inflated ego to such inflatedness that has not been seen since my grade 9 English teacher went into rapture about my poems and any other written material I presented her. (Under careful reflection I must admit that this may have been due to my large and varied vocabulary which starkly contrasted with the 4 letter word vocabulary that my compatriots used as I was in a ‘special’ program that was used either by home scholars or high school dropouts.) Therefore, (“Finally.” you say?!) I have taken fingers to keys again.
This last Monday was Canada Day, and to celebrate it corporate Canada shuts down. This is delightful as it translated to little old me getting a long weekend. It has become a long standing tradition for various friends and I to head out to the backwoods in search of serious adventure.
“Backwoods?” you ask. What this constitutes is borrowing tenting gear from whomever is willing to lend it, air mattresses, much food, a camp site complete with running water toilets and showers, and a nearby beach for soaking in the rays. When you’ve been born in bred in the city anything more backwoods then this is just a tad overwhelming.
Saturday Day: Walked through sand dunes! The sky was slightly overcast and it was low 20’s. Perfect day for a hike. Each of the members of my group minus myself uses English as a second language. So very frequently conversations would take place in French or Frenglish. This required either immediate interpretation or waiting till the person they were commenting on walked by so they could interpret without being rude.
Saturday Night: I overindulged in water, tea, s’mores and all else yummy. For some reason sleep was slow in coming. Eventually I dozed off. Midway through the night my bladder hit full, I was frozen solid and one of my neighbors was snoring. My solution for these problems: I tried not to think about my bladder, I curled in a little ball with only my nose touching the cold air and I alternated attempting to awake the offending member with nice, gentle nudges and holding my thoroughly damp pillow around my ears.
Sunday Day: Went on this 36 km hike- at least part of it. Walked about 13.5km through gorgeous rolling hills covered in grass and spruce forest. Birds chirping, the creek bubbling, and the sun blazing. Then we discovered the ticks. Gaby had the good fortune of finding the first one. She was ecstatic! By the time we finished our hike we each had collected hordes of the bugs under, on and in our shoes. It was the best part of our day.
Sunday Night: Our campsite was lovely, we were surrounded by a bunch of families who were really quite. UNTILL now. Two cars filled with 17 year old boys pulled up and invaded the campsite next to us. Never before has someone imitating my laugh made me feel like a loser. They stayed up late and got up early. ‘We’ had many conversations about them when they could totally hear us- in French.
This night was christened ‘burn the rest of the newspaper night’. This constituted the best, biggest, hottest and roaringest fire we created all weekend. Apparently we need to take fire building skills 101.
Monday Day: We packed up, sat at the beach for thirty minutes and the rest of the girls left. After this I was able to spend 2 hours laying on the beach reading ‘Christianity: Opium or Truth’. The title is a play on a quote by Karl Marx, “Religion is the opium of the people.” The basic conclusion being (or at least what I’ve gotten so far) that being a follower of Christ is not a religion but a relationship. Jesus is a man so completely unique in all of history that His claims make Him either a lunatic or the Son of God, one can not just brush Him off as a ‘good man’. So what do you think of Christ?
“...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time...” 1 Corinthians 15:3b-6a.
This last Monday was Canada Day, and to celebrate it corporate Canada shuts down. This is delightful as it translated to little old me getting a long weekend. It has become a long standing tradition for various friends and I to head out to the backwoods in search of serious adventure.
“Backwoods?” you ask. What this constitutes is borrowing tenting gear from whomever is willing to lend it, air mattresses, much food, a camp site complete with running water toilets and showers, and a nearby beach for soaking in the rays. When you’ve been born in bred in the city anything more backwoods then this is just a tad overwhelming.
Saturday Day: Walked through sand dunes! The sky was slightly overcast and it was low 20’s. Perfect day for a hike. Each of the members of my group minus myself uses English as a second language. So very frequently conversations would take place in French or Frenglish. This required either immediate interpretation or waiting till the person they were commenting on walked by so they could interpret without being rude.
Saturday Night: I overindulged in water, tea, s’mores and all else yummy. For some reason sleep was slow in coming. Eventually I dozed off. Midway through the night my bladder hit full, I was frozen solid and one of my neighbors was snoring. My solution for these problems: I tried not to think about my bladder, I curled in a little ball with only my nose touching the cold air and I alternated attempting to awake the offending member with nice, gentle nudges and holding my thoroughly damp pillow around my ears.
Sunday Day: Went on this 36 km hike- at least part of it. Walked about 13.5km through gorgeous rolling hills covered in grass and spruce forest. Birds chirping, the creek bubbling, and the sun blazing. Then we discovered the ticks. Gaby had the good fortune of finding the first one. She was ecstatic! By the time we finished our hike we each had collected hordes of the bugs under, on and in our shoes. It was the best part of our day.
Sunday Night: Our campsite was lovely, we were surrounded by a bunch of families who were really quite. UNTILL now. Two cars filled with 17 year old boys pulled up and invaded the campsite next to us. Never before has someone imitating my laugh made me feel like a loser. They stayed up late and got up early. ‘We’ had many conversations about them when they could totally hear us- in French.
This night was christened ‘burn the rest of the newspaper night’. This constituted the best, biggest, hottest and roaringest fire we created all weekend. Apparently we need to take fire building skills 101.
Monday Day: We packed up, sat at the beach for thirty minutes and the rest of the girls left. After this I was able to spend 2 hours laying on the beach reading ‘Christianity: Opium or Truth’. The title is a play on a quote by Karl Marx, “Religion is the opium of the people.” The basic conclusion being (or at least what I’ve gotten so far) that being a follower of Christ is not a religion but a relationship. Jesus is a man so completely unique in all of history that His claims make Him either a lunatic or the Son of God, one can not just brush Him off as a ‘good man’. So what do you think of Christ?
“...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time...” 1 Corinthians 15:3b-6a.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
awesome God
Genisis 18:14 "...Is anything too hard for the LORD?..."
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,
There's nothing my God cannot do!
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,
There's nothing my God cannot do!
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